Lizzy Burt

“Only Because of You” by Lizzy Burt

“Are you sure about this?” My grip tightens around the edge of the cliff as I peer down into the endless void of black.  “Yes,” I respond, keeping my voice level and confident. That was kind of a lie. I’m not totally sure about this. A combination of fear, excitement, anticipation, curiosity, and pure recklessness all swirl together in a nervous energy. My deep exhale vanishes in the darkn...

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“Of Red and its Thrill” by Lizzy Burt

Submitted to Contest #68

This is a sequel to my short story, ‘Of Red and its Irony’. This story makes more sense if you go back and read the other one. My favorite color used to be red, but I never told her why.  Joining the UEA was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. No one knows when, where, or who started the Underground Extermination Agency, or UEA, which was on purpose. The only reason why I ...

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“Good Girl” by Lizzy Burt

Submitted to Contest #60

The inside of my eyelids glow orange, pulling me out of a vague dream. I crack my eyes open to see a beam of sunlight streaming in through the gap in the boarded window. I turn my head away from the beam, blinking to adjust my vision. My pack is still asleep, curled up underneath their faded and ripped blankets. I stand up with a big yawn, stretching the stiffness out of my legs. My master hasn’t noticed ...

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“The Unknown” by Lizzy Burt

Submitted to Contest #58

Why are we so scared of the dark? My parents never figured out why I was so afraid of the lights being off at nighttime. I remember the first time the dark was terrifying. My mother tucked me into bed, flipped the light switch, and closed the door. It took my eyes a moment to adjust, and for a few seconds, I could see nothing but black. Those few seconds were enough to feel the darkness suffocating me. Th...

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“Will You Except This Will?” by Lizzy Burt

Submitted to Contest #57

Sighing, Ryan left the pen hovering over the paper and looked at Molly. “You ready?”Molly smiled, the wrinkles he so dearly treasured stretching. “No one’s going to like this, so let’s just get it over with.”As he began writing, Molly’s hazel eyes looked out the arched window. Sunlight streamed into the room, illuminating the beautiful old books of their library. Their grandchildren were running across the red ground in front of their family’s houses, their space suits not able to hide the giggles and s...

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“Of Death and a Mistake” by Lizzy Burt

Submitted to Contest #57

I died last week. Apparently there was a little mix-up with someone else who died last week. My name is Richard Jacobson, and I died a pretty heroic death. I’m not trying to exaggerate or puff out my chest, I just think once you know my story you’ll agree.  In the middle of the night I woke up to the sounds of a fire a couple blocks away from my apartment. The firefighters hadn’t show...

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“Limbo” by Lizzy Burt

Submitted to Contest #56

Wind gently whistled by, a low, open tone that filled the ears of the three companions. They sat together on a lone bench, amidst the sea of wheat plains, stretching out as far as the eye could see. The cloudless sky bore a weak sun, just bright enough to dispense the cold, but not filling the air with warmth. The young man of the company sat further away from the other two, leaning his elbow on the ar...

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“Of Red and its Irony” by Lizzy Burt

Submitted to Contest #54

Is that him?  I nearly drop the loaf of bread, on its way from the shelf to my cart. Time stops as I inspect the man halfway down the aisle. His hair is just as red and curly as I remember. He looks a little more muscular and less scrawny from the last time I saw him. Goosebumps raise on my arms as I think about those hands that used to stroke my face and wrap around my back. A red t-shirt matches his h...

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“Disconnected” by Lizzy Burt

Submitted to Contest #54

Isabelle’s shoes quickly thumped against the sidewalk, harmonizing with her heavy breathing. She held onto the straps of her grey backpack to prevent too much bouncing. Almost to the bus stop, she saw the city bus turn the corner, giving a loud screech as it jolted to a halt at the edge of the neighborhood. She joined the end of the line, where someone from behind rammed into her backpack. She looked over her sh...

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“Collin” by Lizzy Burt

Submitted to Contest #52

“Watch it, buddy.” There was no friendliness in the stranger’s voice as I accidentally bumped into him. I didn’t care. I stared at the ground and kept walking, stuffing my hands further into my jacket pockets.  Cars whizzed by, and people walked around me, all in a hurry to get to their destination. Not me, though. The sound of a police siren grew and faded in the distance. A dog barked. People on the s...

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“2037” by Lizzy Burt

Submitted to Contest #51

The year was 2037, ten years after the Borthons attacked. At least I thought it was about ten years ago. I stopped caring about time long ago. Sunshine reigned the sky, but I didn’t feel its warmth. Warmth meant nothing. I dug my hands deeper into my faded green coat pockets and stared at the gravel in front of me. A leaf crunched underneath my boot. I shone my flashlight downward to see where the c...

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“Trails” by Lizzy Burt

Submitted to Contest #50

Breathing heavily, I tried to ignore the burning sensation in my throat. My heart was about to pound out of my chest, but I pushed myself to go faster. My legs soared over muddy patches, following the twisting, winding trail. Without having to think, my feet found the best routes on the rocky path, sometimes bending around the rocks, sometimes using them as stepping stones. My legs screamed and my side jarred with pain,...

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“Tick, Tock” by Lizzy Burt

Submitted to Contest #49

Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock.  The clock chimes on endlessly as you wait for the second hand to be directly in the center of the hour hand. There it goes! That was satisfying. You can’t take your eyes away, hypnotized by the emerald green background and constant movement of the black minute hand. Another minute passes as the second hand lands on top of the hour hand. This time, the second...

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“Paige” by Lizzy Burt

Submitted to Contest #48

An alcohol bottle shatters on the far side of the living room, breaking against the peeling flower wallpaper, shards landing on the stained gray couch and chipped wood floor. I can’t make out the words. Just yelling. I run out of the room with a black eye. I see Paige quietly sitting on the stairs, her little hands holding onto the cold bars of the railing. Her bright blue are eyes dark, past the point of fear. She’s us...

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“The Letter from the Future” by Lizzy Burt

Submitted to Contest #47

I never expected to get a letter from myself. From the future. But there I was, walking up the street to the mailbox like every other day, enjoying the evening breeze and the silhouette of trees against the sunset.  “Hey, George!” I waved to my neighbor, mowing his lawn.  “Hi!”  There was my favorite house with the lilac bush, the house w...

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